Author Archives: Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

Africa’s Winners and Losers in 2011

Posted on 22 December 2011 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

It’s been an extra-ordinary year for Africa. The biggest losers were the North African leaders Ben Ali (Tunisia), Mubarak (Egypt) and Gaddafi (Libya). All three clung to power. Mubarak and Ben Ali had ruled some 30 years, Gaddafi even more than 40 … Continue reading →

Posted in 'Mo' Ibrahim, African Politics, Aliko Dangote, Arab Revolution, Ben Ali, Benin, Cameroon, Cape Verde, CAR, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Djibouti, DRC, Egypt, Elections in Africa, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Fatou Bensouda, François Bozizé, Gaddafi, Goodluck Jonathan, Guelleh, Hissein Habré, Hosmi Mubarak, Idriss Deby, Ivory Coast, James Michel, Jammeh, Jospeh Kabila, Lamido Sanusi, Leymah Gbowee, Libya, Madagascar, Museveni, Niger, Nigeria, Paul Biya, Pedro Pires, Robert Mugabe, Sao Tomé and Principe, Sata, Seychelles, The Gambia, Tshisekedi, Tunisia, Uganda, Yayi Boni, Zambia, Zimbabwe | Leave a comment

A bittersweet victory for President Sirleaf

Posted on 10 November 2011 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

Last month, in October, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf had every reason to be happy and optimistic about the future. On October 7, she was awarded the prestigious 2011 Nobel Peace prize, together with Leymah Bowee and Tawakul Karman. On October … Continue reading →

Posted in Charles Brumskine, Elections in Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, George Weah, James Fromoyan, Joseph Boakai, Liberia, Moses Blah, National Elections Commission (NEC), Nobel Peace Prize, Prince Y. Johnson, Progressive Alliance of Liberia (PAL), Samuel Kanyon Doe, Tipoteh, Winston Tubman | Leave a comment

Elections in Liberia: The Long Walk To Democracy in Africa’s Oldest Republic

Posted on 29 September 2011 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

On October 11 presidential and legislative elections will be held in Liberia. Incumbent President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf faces 15 presidential aspirants who share one goal: unseat Africa’s first democratically elected female president. Liberia’s Iron Lady, however, is with her 72 … Continue reading →

Posted in ArcelorMittal, Charles Brumskine, Charles Taylor, Civil War(s) Liberia, Dew Mayson, Elections in Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, George Weah, Gus Kouwenhoven, Guus Kouwenhoven, James Fromoyan, Liberia, Liberian Economy, national budget, National Elections Commission (NEC), Prince Y. Johnson, Samuel Kanyon Doe, Tipoteh, Truth and Reconciliation Committee (TRC), William V.S. Tubman, Winston Tubman | Leave a comment

Gaddafi and Liberia (Part 1 – revised version)

Posted on 22 August 2011 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

Gaddafi’s political end is near – it even may be a fact by the time I finish this post. But predicting political developments is risky, it is much safer to look back. I can’t help it: I look at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Arab Revolution, Charles Taylor, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Gaddafi, Liberia, Mano River Union (MRU), Samuel Kanyon Doe, Thomas Weh-Syen, William R. Tolbert Jr., William V.S. Tubman | Leave a comment

26 July: A historic day to remember

Posted on 26 July 2011 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

For three reasons 26 July is a historic day and that’s today’s topic of this blog. First, Liberia. In July 1847 a Constitutional Convention convened in Monrovia which at that time had approximately 1,000 inhabitants. The towns of Monrovia, New … Continue reading →

Posted in 'July 26', Liberia, Liberian History | Leave a comment

Two powerful women: Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Posted on 7 July 2011 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

Liberia and Nigeria are very different but there is one important exception:  in both countries a woman plays a key role in national politics. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first elected female president,  does not need any introduction to the regular readers … Continue reading →

Posted in African Politics, Debt relief, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Famous Liberians, Liberia, Nigeria, Paris Club | Leave a comment

More investors coming to Liberia

Posted on 21 May 2011 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

Liberia is not a poor country. It has abundant natural resources: gold, diamonds, iron ore, oil and timber. Its agricultural potential notably includes rubber and palm oil. In the 20th century this small West African country, the size of Ohio, … Continue reading →

Posted in Charles Taylor, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberia, Liberian Economy, Liberian History, Samuel Kanyon Doe, William R. Tolbert Jr., William V.S. Tubman | Leave a comment

Which way, Ivory Coast?

Posted on 12 April 2011 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

  April 12 is a date to remember. Liberians immediately think of April 12 1980: the day Master Sergeant Samuel Doe seized power and the country made a U-turn from which it still has to recover. Ivorians now have their … Continue reading →

Posted in Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Samuel Kanyon Doe | Leave a comment

Addition to my March 1 posting on ‘Bullet or ballot propelled changes in Africa’

Posted on 8 March 2011 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

There are over 50 ‘countries’ in ‘Africa’ – the smallest being the Seychelles, population wise, the biggest of course Nigeria – so the fact that I missed two countries in my last posting may be pardoned. Nevertheless, a serious error. … Continue reading →

Posted in Coups in Africa, Elections in Africa, Liberia | Leave a comment

Ballot or bullet propelled changes in Africa in 2011?

Posted on 1 March 2011 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

In January, Tunisia’s President Ben Ali fell and in February Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak. Will in March the Libyan people oust its leader, Muammar Muhammed al-Gaddafi aka Colonel Gaddafi? Where will Gaddafi go to? To his friend Robert Mugabe in … Continue reading →

Posted in Coups in Africa, Elections in Africa, Liberia | Leave a comment